Stretcher.



No. 722,456. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

J. E. REEVES.

STRETGHBR. APPLICATION FILED 00127, 1902.

K0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. REEVES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN RUDOLPH SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 722,456, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed October 27, 1902. Serial No. 128,909. (No model.)

face for sustaining a patient or a wounded,

fractured, or other disabled person thereon and straps for controlling the upper portion of the body, the arms and legs of the person,

provision being made for folding the stretcher into compact form, as will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims.

It also consists in providing the stretcher with handles formed of a plurality of lengths of rope or other suitable material, the same being of a strong and durable nature and firmly connected with the stretcher.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a stretcher embodying my invention, the same being in operative condition. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section on line :n :12, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the stretcher in folded condition. Fig. 4 represents a perspective View of one of the handles detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures. 7

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of the stretcher, which is formed of canvas or other suitable fabric and longitudinally-extending slats B, embedded each in a separate pocket in said fabric, the several pocketsbeing flexibly connected,wherebysaid body may be properly distended and braced or stifiened in longitudinal direction, while also admitting of flexibility in transverse direction, providing ina measure a bed or bedbottom on which a person may be properly sustained and carried.

O and D designate head and foot pieces on the respective ends of the body A, the same being formed of canvas or other suitable fabric, continuous of that of the body A, the piece 0 being adapted to support the head of the occupant of the stretcher and the piece vD that of the feet thereof.

E designates straps which are connected with the sides of the body A near the piece 0, they being adapted to pass underthe arms of the patient or other person and over the chest thereof and embrace the latter and be buckled or otherwise connected for preventing shifting or rising movements of the body of the occupant. F designates straps which are passed through the fabric of the body A and around and under the contiguous slats B thereof near the sides of thebody adjacent to the straps E, they being adapted to be passed around and embrace the arms of the patient or other person and be buckled or otherwise connected, thus firmly embracing said arms, it being noticed that said straps are separate from each other, so that each arm of the person may be secured independent of the other and thoroughly encircled, so.

as to prevent the arms from being worked out. Again, as said straps are passed through the fabric and around the sides and bottom of the slats they are not liable to bewrenched ofi or give away, due to the weight or strain of the occupant. is passed through the body A and around certain of the slats B: near the end of said.

body and bent or folded onitself and formed into a loop H, which is connected or coupled with the end portion of the strap above the same'by means of the ring J, thus forming the two loops K at opposite places of the body A, wherein the legs of the occupant may be received and embraced and by which they may be firmly held on the body A. By these means the occupant may be conveniently and reliably strapped or controlled in position.

At the corners and sides of the stretcher are the handles L, whereby the stretcher and its occupant can be nicely carried. The handles are each formed of a piece of rope or other suitable pliable material bent into loop form and passed through eyelets in the respective portions of the stretcher and then bent or folded on itself, forming two thicknesses of the rope, and the end portions are crossed and folded down on the two thicknesses at opposite places, forming a treble thickness G designates a strap which I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters the same.

of the rope, the several thicknesses tied at various points, thus forming a strong and durable handle and one that has a firm connection with the stretcher.

When the stretcher is not required for use, the head and foot pieces C and D and the straps E F are folded on the body and then the latter is formed into a roll, in which condition it is retained by straps M, which are attached to the sides of the bodyA and buckled, the result being shown in Fig. 3.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in each case to Having thus described my invention, what Patent, is

1. A stretcher of the character stated having a bed of fabric formed with separate pockets and stifiieners in each of said pockets, said pockets and stiifeners extending in the longitudinal direction of the stretcher.

2. A stretcher of the character stated, consisting of a bed of fabric and stifieners, said bed being formed with separate pockets extending in the longitudinal direction of the stretcher and flexibly connected, said stiffeners occupying said pockets.

3. A stretcher of the character stated, con- 1 sisting of a bed of fabric formed with separate pockets extending in the longitudinal direction of the stretcher and flexibly connected, longitudinallyextending slats in said pockets, and securing-straps passed through said fabric and around the contiguous slats.

4;. A stretcher of the character stated, consisting of a body of fabric formed with longitudinally-extending pockets and slats therein, said pockets being flexibly connected and separate arm-straps, the latter being passed through said fabric and around the contiguous slats.

5. A stretcher of thecharacter stated, consisting of a bed and means thereon adapted to secure the legs of the occupant, said means consisting of a strap which is doubled on itself and provided with a coupling device forming a plurality of loops to receive the legs.

6. In a stretcher of the character stated, a bed, and a handleconnected therewith, said handle being formed of a pliable piece of material passed through said body and doubled on itself with its end portions crossing and being united to the adjacent portion of the handle forming a treble length of material.

JAMES E. REEVES. 

